The Open return to Royal Portrush may come 'sooner than we think' believes Tourism NI chief
The return of one of the world of sport's most iconic championships to Northern Ireland in 2019 was huge given the 68-year wait to have the great and the good of golf battling it out for the Claret Jug back on these shores once more.
But you could sense the anticipation for more after Shane Lowry's triumph around the Dunluce Links, and just six years later we have been treated to an absolute sporting spectacular on the north coast.
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From Rory-mania, to the impeccable surroundings of Royal Portrush, to Scottie Scheffler's relentless pursuit of his fourth major, you got a sense that everything had been cranked up a few more notches and boy was it great to see.
Yes we didn't get the win many of us were hoping for, but those lucky to be there in the record crowds were treated to some sensational golf in glorious sunshine.
Those stunning pictures of thousands lining this legendary links course framed by the beautiful beaches and Atlantic Ocean were beamed to millions around the world.
It's bound to have a positive effect on tourism not just on the north coast but Northern Ireland as whole.
That was not lost on Tourism NI CEO John McGrillen who was asked the all-important question by the BBC about when The Open will return once more.
"The feedback from the R&A is that this has been an absolutely outstanding success and I think there's absolutely no doubt that this competition will be back in Portrush at some future point, maybe sooner than we might think," he said.
"They didn't say that, that's my assumption, but certainly from their perspective and our perspective at Tourism NI, and from all of the partners we work with, things really could not have gone better."
Rory McIlroy is certainly hoping it's a case of sooner rather than later as he wants to be part of The Open at Royal Portrush at least a couple more times in his career.
"Hopefully I'll have one or two Opens left here, if the R&A decide to keep coming back, probably one while I'm still competitive and another one while I'm more grey than I already am," he said.
"It's just been incredible to come back here and to play and at least feel like I had a chance today going out there. Just an awesome week.
"It's only been six years since 2019. I'm not sure Portrush is going to have The Open every six years, that would be nice, but I would obviously love it to keep coming back."
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